Liquid-fuel-feeding system.



PATRNTED J ULY` 2 3, 1 907.

-G. E. WHITNE LIQUID FUEL PEBDING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 10, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@ear y 7 ge( l PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

G. E. WHITNEY, LIQUID FUEL EEEDING SYSTEM.

APPLIUATIDN FILED APR. 10, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lll l Inventor? 'fgrgei'mitney,

PATE-NULL JULY 2s, 19071v G. L. WHITNLY. LIQUID PULL FEELING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED APB..10, 1902.

`4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

M'nasses;

hay,

Mig.

PATLNTLD JULY z3, I907 G. E. WHITNEY. A LIQUID PULL ILBDING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10,1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

` out pressure and forcing the same to the burner, a

supply receptacle, Where any leakage that may take uid fuel to the burners of automobiles, is'to create and` liquid.

. of feeding the fuel by the use of a pump without the GEORGE E. WHITNEY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, RY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

To STANLEY MOTOR CARRIAGE COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

LIQUID-FUEL-FEEDING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern: p

Be it known-that I, GEoRGE E. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State 'of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Liquid-Fuel-Feeding Systems, of which the following description, inl connection with the accompanying drawings, is aI specification, like' letters on the drawings representing like'parts.

This invention relates particularly to means' for feeding liquid fuel, the invention being particularly useful in automobilesiin, connection'with. which I have elected to disclose the same. i

Probably the mostkcommon method of feeding liqmaintain an elastic pressure wi thin the fuel supply tank and upon the liquid fuel therein, which airv pressure acts to. force the fuel along the supply pipe to the burner. ,This method of feeding thel fuel 'has been objected to because ofthe large volume of inflammable fuel maintained under pressure and which it is claimed is likely to be freed by collision or otherwise, to the damage of the machine. In an effort to overcome this objection, attempts have been made to feed the liquid fuel by means Of a pump drawing the fuel from the supply reservoir where it is kept withby-pass being provided under the control of a regulator, which diverts more` or less of the delivery of the pump. as may be necessary to maintain the required supply of fuel` One difficulty with apparatus of this last-mentioned type is the practical impossibility of providing a pumpwhich Will operate without objectionable leakage when employed in pumping gasolene or other hydro-carbon fuels,-gasolene being much more difficult to pack against than'most any other To retain the admitted advantages of this method necessity for maintaining the I nain fuel supply u nderA pressure, and at the same time to eliminate4 the objections incident to any attempt to pump liquid `hydrocarbon-such as gasolene,-by a pump of ordinary construction and location, my present invention comprises-a novel construction and arrangement ofthe pump involving the placing of the latter in the main place mingles at once with the main body of liquid fuel therein; so thatA no damage or detrimental action results. 'i y I The various features of my invention will be best understood afterfa description of the best embodiment thereof now known.` to me.

In the draWingsf-Figure l, in side elevation, illustrates one form of my invention as applied to a typical motor vehicle, thel latter` shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Application sled spin 1o, 1902; swarm. 102.259.

Patented July 23, 1907.

is 'an enlarged vertical sectional detail through a .por-v tion of the fuel' supply tank or reservoir and showing the means for actuating the pump located within the j reservoir from vthe actuatingdevices ananged outside thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevationl of the pocket casting .placed atV the bottom of the reservoir, Figs. l and 2,

with a-portionof the superimposed devices in connection therewith;Fig. 4, a top or plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical sectional detail on the dotted line, 5 5, Fig. 3; and, Fig. 6, s View similar to Figa, 'with the diaphragm removed partially broken away in an v irregular section and showing the parts indifferent position. Fig. 7 is a detailv in section showing the i check valve at ,the feed outlet of thereservbir.

In the embodiment of' my invention y'selected forc illustration and shown inthe drawings, referring rst to Fig. l, which shows the vehicle parts in dotted lines the vehicle body, A, spring supported upon` a suitable running gear, isprovided with a generator, as B, supplied with heat from 'a burner, b, of suitable construction, an engine Ef'supplied with steam from said generator communicating its power in Suitable manner through suitable driving connections,-which need not be described,-to the Wheelsof the runningv gear.

Within the body A and at the rear of the generator is a suitable water tank, e, Fig. l, andxattlie front of the vehicle and. inclosed within the front or dasiier box, a, may be arranged the fuel receptacle or reservoir, C.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to '6, inclusive, I have provided in the bottom of the fuel receptacle'or reservoir,

`C, an opening, preferably corresponding in shape and dimensions with the inside opening of a well casting, c, shown as providedfwith flanges, c by which it may be secured to the. bottom of the reservoir,'as by rivets, solder,A or `the like." Thiswell casting, c, is shown provided with an internally threaded boss or nipple', c2, into` which is screwed from above the .stand-pipe, c3', 'reaching preferably. quite to the top of the reservoir. Working within thisA stand-pipe, c, is the pump actuating rod, c, having its lower end, see Fig. 3, turned at right angles to form acrank, c45, -by which it. may be rOcked,.-as, for instance, by a connecting rod, ce, Fig. l, leading to the engine. As herein shown, the'actuating rod, 06, is jointed to a vertically extended arm, c7,lon the pump beam, cs, of the-engine,

which is connected at one end to the reciprocating rock shaft by a key, d and a jam nut,' d2. The cup.

yioY

shaped head, d, receives and'lsecurely holdsdhe ,rocking tube or tubular shaft, d3, which extends downward within the reservoir ,but outside the standpipe, c3, and lat its lower end is fitted with a casting d, suit; ablyprovided with a pump actuating arm, d prefer- Lably arranged within the we1l,`c. -Thus isl provided a construction whichperniits .'a rocking motion 0ba -domedike cap or nut, d, screwed into a suitable t voir and which permits of ready access tothe parts at" the top of the standpipe when desired, the same alsoA servingas a bearing to constitute the upper end of the I -rotating rock shafts and to preserve the alinement of washer or plate, d'7, in the top of the said tank or reserthe latter. v

Referringr now to Figs.. 4, 5 and 6, vthere is formed within the well, c, and preferably-as a part of the casting thereof, a pump casing or barrel, f, which'need be nothing morethan a long boss or lug bored to correspond with the desired inside diameter of the pump.'

Within this pump cylinder or barrel, f, is an ordinary cylindrical pump plunger, ff, a portion of the sidev wall of the casing or barrel being cut away or removed,

asbest shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, to permit of the en-u gagement of the actuating` arm, d5, with the plunger, f which it is to reciprocate. This may conveniently be done by providing the pump plunger with two lugs, f 2,'between which is received the rounded end L the said actuating arm. Thus, any rocking 'movement of the rock shaft, c4, and tubular shaft, c3, is imparted to the actuating arm, d5, and in'turn reciprocates the plunger within the pump barrel.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the pump inlet is shown at g, part way down the bar rel and just inside the end of the Voutward stroke of the plunger, thisinlet communicating through a slit-like opening, g", -Withlthe interior of the'well and-reservoir. AA screw plug, g2, furnishes access to the inlet, for cleaning or otherwise. Asthe pump plunger approaches the end of its outward stroke,

f it uncovers this inlet,'g, and permits the barrel to fill from thea-vell//and reservoir, and the pump plunger at the beginning of its ret-urn stroke, passes and thus closes said inlet, so that the plunger fulfils the further function of inlet valve. /The pumpfoutlet, g3,- is at the end of the barrel, see Fig. 'ian'd/extends downward, as indicated in Fig. 7, into the thr/a/dd boss, g4, the outlet valve being indicated at g5, a spring, 96,

serving to hold said ball valve normallyto its seat.

This outlet, g3, is connected in suitable manner, as'by the supply pipe, 97,- Figilfwith the burner, or other device to be supplied with fuel. Thus, it will appear that the operation of the engine through the connections described, will reciprocate the pump in the fuel supply reservoir whereventhe latter may conveniently bef located, to cause the said pump' to .force the liquid fuel to the burner, wherever the latter maybe located.

Andit matters not how much the pump may leak, for

seppie d its leakage; merely renters ,the main'supply from which it was drawn, so that it becomes necessary merely to make the pinp'o-sufiicient capacity to give' the required supply notwithstanding there maybe con;

siCerable leakage, and a successful working deyiceis assured for all'time'. It is a fact, however, that the,

operation of the. pump'immersed in the body of liquid,

v'causes the latter to become s'o`much more thoroughly lubricated than would otherwisebe possible, that excessive wear is eliminated. The arrangement there.- fore notonlyprolongs the life-ofthe pump against wear and leakage, but takes care of the leakagev when 'the latter occurs. I

,To prod/nce the required pressure upon the liquid i' forced to'the burner,- the pump is made of a capacity such'that when operated at its normal speed, it will tend toforce the liquid throiigh the pipe, gl, more rap idlyl than it will flow therethrough under the infiuence Y To control this contrdl of a suitable, preferably diaphragm regulator,

' which, by regulating the amount of liquid fuel permitted to `escape through the by-pass, maintains the pressure within the' supply pipe to thebnrner at the required constant point. This may conveniently- 'be done by the construction shown in the drawings, reference being had particularly to Figs. Sto 6.l l

Referring to Fig. 6, within the well, c,- there is formed, preferably by casting, -a ring-like wall, h, forming a contained chamber, h', which is in communication with the interior of the pump` barrel, f, through a pash/ which I will call the regulating chamber, at all times .lot gravity alone, thus causing a pressure to accumulate g :in the said pipe and pump cylinder'.

pressure and to maintain it at a substantially prede` -terminedpoint, I have provided a by-pass, under the sage b2; .Thus there is maintained within this chamber a pressure the same as in the pump cylinder and sup-v ply pipe leading to the burner. v

Referring to Fig. 5, the top of this chamber is` closed` by a fiexiblediaphragni, h3, which rests upon the top face of the circular wall,fh, and is clamped thereupon by the ring-like bottom of the yoke, h, the latter being secured in position by bolts, h5, or otherwise, Vas desii-ed. Bearing upon the top of the diaphragm, h3, is a pressure plateh6, acted upon by a spring,`h7 `which in turn is seated against a cap," hs, upon the `lower end of an adjusting'devic'e, h, threaded4 in the crown ofthev yoke and extended vertically to and out through the top of the reservoir through asuitable'bearing sleeve,

h1". The outer vend of this adjusting device,` k, is

squared or otherwise fitted or equipped, to venable it to be rotated to vary the pressure `o f the-screw, k7,- upon the diaphragm and correspondingly vary the respon-y v v sive action of the said diaphragm to pressure beneath it within the chamber, h. The diaphragm, under the action ofthe spring, h", is pressed constantly downward upon a conical valve, h, secured tothe diaphragm and cooperating with a suitable valve seat, h1?, formed in a column, within the chamber, h, and which controls entrance to' a bypass, hm, leading into the reservoir.

When the pump is in operation, the pressure created within the-pump and regulating chamber, z, 'acts upon the diaphragm, h3, and lifts the latter, more or less, against the action ofthe spring", k7, and this opens more or less the valve, h, and the by-pass, h, so that al1 excess of pressure vcreated bythe pump over and above what is desired shall be communicate'dto the burner, which pressure is determined by adjustment Vof the spring, k7, escapes through the by-pass, i113,

" ing the burner and maintaining the latter until steam is raised and the vehicle is in motion, I have provided an air chamber, indicated at m, Fig. 1, in communication with the supply pipe, `577, and this'air chamber is equipped with a suitable pump, m, Fig. l, whereby sufficient air pressure maybe created manually or otherwise, acting upon the fuel in the supply pipe to start the burner and maintain the latter for a consider# able yperiod of time. The air reservoir-should be of suiiicient capacity to feed the fuel to the burner until the vehicle is ready for operation. When steam is once raised, the usual diaphragm regulator indicated at R, responsive to variations in pressure of steam, cuts off the supply or iow of fuel vthrough the supply pipe, g7, until the steam pressure has become reduced. At such times, the entire delivery of the pumpl is of course of necessity returned into the tank or reservoir and through the by-pass, h3, since it cannot go to the burner. This air chamber also fulfils the further function of taking up the impulses or shocks from the recprocations of the pump, and renders the fuel supply therefrom substantially continuous and uniform.

Y During the operation. of the engine `and the main fuel feeding device, the liquid fuel will rise and enter the air chamber against the air cushion, filling a portion of the space within the chamber. 4The fuel'within the air chamber isafterwards available, together `with the fuel trapped within the supply conduit in initially-starting the burner; butsince communication between themain reservoir C and the air chamber m is interrupted by the check valve g5, only the fuel within the chamber m and the conduit (17, which need be but a small portion of the total fuel carried, is subject to stored pressure. 4 Y

So far as the supply tank is concerned, the apparatus required for my invention is substantially self-contained,-that is, it is contained substantially wholly within and carried by the Well casting, c, so that it is yinexpensive to make and apply and is easy of access when necessary.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof here shown for illustrative purposes, but may be varied as required within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claim.

1. In a liquid fuel feeding system, a burner,l a fuel sup- Y ply reservoir, a stand-pipe therein, a fuel feeding device in said reservoir, and actuating connections therefor leading outward from said tank through the bottom of said stand-pipe.

same, and means exterior to said reservoir for operating said connections and said feeding Idevice.

In a liquid fuel feeding system, a burner, a fuel supply reservoir, a fuel feeding device located therein, and means to actuate the same, and.an automatic delivery controlling device for said delivery device also arranged in said reservoir. v

4'In a liquid fuel feeding lsystem, a fuel supply reservoir, a fuel feeding device located therein, and means to actuate the same, and an automatic delivery controlling device for said delivery device also arranged in said reservoir and responsive to variations in pressure of the fuel at ythe delivery side of said delivery device.

5.. In a liquid fuel feeding system, a fuel supply resersaid regulator being accessible from the exterior of said reservoir.

6. In a liquidfuel feeding system, a fuel supply reser;

voir, a horizontally arranged pump therein, a vertically extended rock shaft entering said reservoir andconnected with and to .reciprocate the plunger'of said pump.

7. In a liquid fuel feeding system, a liquid fuel supply reservoir, a fuel feed device therein operated from the exterior of said reservoir, a bypass for said delivery device, and an automatic controlling device therefor also 4arranged in said reservoir, and an air reservoir in commn-' nication with the delivery side of said device.

8., In a motor vehicle, an engine, a steam generator and a liquid fuel burner therefor, al liquid fuel supply reservoir, a feeding device Within said reservoir and connected with and actuated by said engine, and automatic means in said reservoir controlling'the delivery of said devlce,` to prevent excessive pressur'at the delivery side of said device.

9. In a motor vehicle, an engine, a generatorand a liquid fuel burner therefor, a liquid fuel supply reservoir, a fuel feed device arranged therein and actuated from said i engine, automatic means for limiting the pressure at the delivery side of said delivery device, an air chamber in communicationwith 'the delivery side of said device, and means independent of said delivery device for creating air pressure in said air reservoir.

10. In a motor vehicle, an engine, a steam generator, a liquid fuel burner therefor, a hydro-carbon supply reservoir, fuel conduits connecting said reservoir and said burner, and a fuel feeding device located within said reservoir for supplying fuel from said reservoir to such burner through said conduit and maintaining said supply during the operation of the burner.

ll. The combination in a motor vehicle of a motor, a

pressure generator', a burner and a liquid fuel' feeding sys- GEORGE E. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, ANNIE E. Crrnsnnr. 

